Category: Nigerian Tribune

Researchers have discovered a shocking link between regular consumption of soft drinks and mental health, disclosing that even moderate soda consumption may alter gut microbes in ways that raise the risk of depression, particularly in women, especially in women.

They found that higher soft drink consumption was associated with a 16.7 per cent increased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) and more severe depressive symptoms in women. Surprisingly, this is not the case with high-sugar solid foods.

This link was significantly mediated by changes in the gut microbiome, particularly an increased abundance of the bacterium Eggerthella, which explained 3.8 per cent of the effect on diagnosis and 5.0 per cent on symptom severity.

Lead investigator Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah, MD, at the University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University in Frankfurt, stated that the findings add to the growing evidence that high intake of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages is linked to depression risk and severity.

He declared, ‘Physicians should consider asking patients about soft drink consumption as part of routine dietary assessment, particularly in those with or at risk of depression, and encourage reducing intake as part of a broader strategy for both physical and mental well-being.’

The study published in JAMA Psychiatry included 932 participants: 405 patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for MDD (67.9 per cent women; mean age, 36 years) and 527 healthy control individuals (65.5 per cent women; mean age, 35 years).

The groups were similar in terms of sex and age but differed significantly in BMI and years of education. Mean BMI was 26.04 for the MDD group vs 24.08 for the control group, and mean years of education were 13.45 for the MDD group compared with 14.10 for the control group.

Higher soft drink consumption was associated with a small but significant increased risk for MDD diagnosis in the overall cohort.

The association was stronger in women who drank larger amounts of soda, who were 17 per cent more likely to have MDD than women who drank less. There was no significant effect observed in men.

Depressive symptom severity was also linked to soft drink intake, with higher consumption associated with worse symptoms in the overall cohort. But this effect, too, was driven by women, while men showed no significant effect.

The link between soft drink consumption and MDD diagnosis, as well as symptom severity, remained significant in women after controlling for BMI, antidepressant use, education, and total calorie intake. The relevant effects were not significant in men.

It’s unclear why the relationships are stronger in women, but biological or hormonal differences likely play a role, researchers said. A higher proportion of women in the study may limit the interpretation of findings in men, they added.

These findings emphasise the need to educate consumers about the dangers of soft drinks to mental health. They also support policies that restrict the marketing and availability of soft drinks, as physical activity alone cannot compensate for the effects of soft drink intake.

Soft drinks are wildly popular worldwide, especially among children and teenagers. They are loaded with empty calories, mostly simple sugars like glucose and fructose, which push up blood glucose levels. They are also associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

The suspension placed on trading in the shares of International Energy Insurance Plc by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has been lifted.

This followed the company’s filing of its Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the outstanding Unaudited Financial Statements for 2025.

On September 1, 2025, NGX penalized the underwriting firm after its failure to submit the necessary financial statements for the perusal of the investing community.

After investors were prevented from trading its securities, including its stocks on the NGX platform, the board filed the outstanding results, prompting the lifting of the embargo.

In a statement, the stock exchange said it allowed the trading in the shares of the insurance company in line with Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules, which states that, ‘The suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts, provided the exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange.

‘The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) were initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted,’ the statement said.

The embargo was removed on Thursday with a notice on the NGX website.

‘Trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that the suspension placed on trading on the shares of International Energy Insurance Plc was lifted today, Thursday, October 2, 2025,’ a part of the notice read.

Last month, the NGX suspended the company based on the powers conferred on it by Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing (Default Filing Rules), which provides that: ‘If an issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will: a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify SEC and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.’

The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure, is set to host its second stakeholder webinar on the transition to the T+2 settlement cycle, as part of efforts to ensure seamless market adoption of the new framework.

Building on the momentum of its first engagement, the webinar underscores CSCS’s continued commitment to deepening stakeholder collaboration and aligning Nigeria’s capital market operations with global standards by reducing the settlement cycle from T+3 to T+2.

Speaking ahead of the event themed Trade Associations Roundtable: Ensuring Stakeholder Readiness for T+2 Settlement, Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CSCS Plc, described the transition as a collective milestone for the market.

‘The move to T+2 settlement is more than a regulatory achievement, it reflects our market’s maturity and shared commitment to efficiency,’ Jalo-Waziri said. ‘This second webinar is part of our ongoing engagement to ensure all stakeholders are informed, prepared, and equipped for a smooth transition,’ he added.

The session will feature remarks from key industry leaders, including Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Temi Popoola, Chairman, CSCS Plc; and Haruna Jalo-Waziri, MD/CEO, CSCS Plc.

They will be joined by representatives from major market trade associations who will share insights on industry preparedness. Confirmed speakers include Samuel Onukwue, Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON); Babatunde Majiyagbe, President, Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria (AACN); and Seyi Owoturo, President/Chairman of Council, Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR).

The interactive session will feature a QandA segment, allowing participants to engage directly with regulators and operators on operational and technical adjustments required for the T+2 transition.

Through initiatives like this, CSCS continues to demonstrate leadership in enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening market infrastructure, and ensuring Nigeria’s capital market remains resilient, competitive, and in sync with international best practices.

Trading on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) opened the week on a quiet note on Monday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of third-quarter earnings releases.

The All-Share Index (ASI) inched up 0.04 per cent to 146,262.55 basis points, while market capitalisation rose slightly by N37 billion to N92.84 trillion, as mild gains in industrial and insurance stocks offset losses in banking and consumer goods counters.

The session saw 624.6 million shares traded across 31,531 deals, reflecting steady participation but subdued risk appetite.

Financial stocks led market turnover, driven by heavy trades in Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Zenith Bank.

Fidelity dipped 1.23 percent to N20.05, while GTCO fell 1.05 percent to N94.00. Sterling Holdings advanced 1.99 percent to ?n7.70, and UBA edged up 0.12 per cent to N42.80.

Insurance players showed mixed sentiment as Sovereign Trust Insurance and Regency Assurance rallied 9.97 percent and 9.68 percent, respectively, even as AIICO Insurance shed 1.75 percent .

Buying interest in industrial majors helped steady the market, with Dangote Cement rising by 1.74 per cent to N585.00, to extend gains from last week, while Lafarge Africa dipped 0.73 per cent to N129.00. BUA Cement closed flat at N159.00.

Consumer stocks were broadly mixed. Nigerian Breweries gained 1.86 percent to N79.45, and Union Dicon Salt jumped 10 percent but Honeywell Flour Mills slipped 1.09 percent.

The oil and gas index was flat as Seplat Energy, TotalEnergies, and Oando closed largely unchanged.

In utilities, Transcorp Power surged 8.92 percent to N342.00, lifting sectoral sentiment, while Geregu Power held firm at N1,141.50.

Analysts expect the market to trade sideways in the short term as investors position ahead of corporate earnings and dividend guidance.

Renewed interest in cement and banking stocks, coupled with steady institutional demand, is expected to cushion volatility through the week.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural and biotechnology sectors have underscored the importance of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in enhancing food security, improving crop yields, and strengthening farmers’ resilience against pests and climate challenges.

They made this known during a two-day sensitisation workshop on GMOs and their products, organised for officials of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in Abuja.

The workshop, themed ‘Biotechnology and Biosafety: Building Trust Through Science and Facts,’ was facilitated by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) in collaboration with the Ministry.

The programme focused on the role of modern biotechnology in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape while ensuring safety and sustainability.

In his keynote address, the Director-General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said biotechnology has become a vital tool for agricultural advancement in Nigeria, with proven benefits in pest resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional quality of crops.

‘Scientific innovation in agricultural biotechnology has never been an end in itself. It is a tool designed to deliver measurable benefits, greater resilience to pests and drought, improved nutritional quality, and higher and more reliable yields for our farmers,’ Mustapha said.

He explained that Nigerian farmers who adopted pest-resistant cowpea and drought-tolerant maize varieties have recorded significant yield increases, reduced pesticide costs, and greater income stability.

According to him, these successes demonstrate how biotechnology can directly uplift smallholder farmers and strengthen food security at the community level.

‘On farms where improved maize varieties with pest and drought tolerance have been deployed, farmers report steadier yields even under erratic rainfall. When crops withstand the twin pressures of pests and a changing climate, families are more secure and local markets more stable,’ he added.

Prof. Mustapha stressed that biosafety remains central to Nigeria’s biotechnology framework, ensuring that all genetically modified crops undergo rigorous risk assessment before approval. He noted that the goal of biosafety is to make scientific progress both safe and acceptable to the public.

‘Biosafety is not a barrier to progress but the mechanism by which progress becomes sustainable. Our work is guided by transparency, evidence, and public trust,’ he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Asanye Nko Esuabana, said agricultural innovation through biotechnology offers viable solutions to Nigeria’s food production challenges caused by population growth, climate change, and declining arable land.

She noted that GMOs, when properly regulated, can play a key role in ensuring sustainable food systems, reducing hunger, and achieving national agricultural development goals.

‘For a developing country like Nigeria, it is crucial to embrace innovations that can help guarantee sustainable food production. However, the introduction and use of GMOs must be approached with caution, knowledge, and adherence to regulatory standards,’ Esuabana stated.

She added that the Federal Government, through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and other stakeholders, has established strict guidelines to ensure that all GMO products in the country are safe for both humans and the environment.

The Permanent Secretary urged participants to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to educate the public and farmers on the benefits and safety of agricultural biotechnology, noting that misinformation often hinders acceptance of scientific innovations.

‘We must act as custodians of accurate information and communicate facts in a clear and balanced manner. This will help build public confidence in biotechnology as a driver of agricultural transformation,’ she said.

The workshop featured technical sessions on GMO regulation, biosafety procedures, and case studies of successful biotech crop deployment in Nigeria.

Experts from NBRDA and partner institutions reaffirmed that biotechnology, when responsibly applied, can help Nigeria achieve food self-sufficiency, create green jobs, and strengthen rural livelihoods.

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, said on Monday that governors leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were free to do so, adding that the party would not make worrying about defections a thing of priority.

Makinde argued that defection by politicians was not peculiar to the PDP, just as he added that so long as membership of a party was voluntary, people should also be allowed to go whenever they chose to defect.

Speaking in Abuja at the inauguration of the Transportation Sub-Committee of the National Convention of the party to be held in Ibadan on November 15, the governor said the PDP was only interested in the welfare of Nigerians and not about the individuals leaving the party.

‘We are not concerned, and we are not bothered, because the ultimate decider here will be the Nigerian people.

‘The only time I’ll be concerned, the only time that we will be concerned as a party, is when we see hunger defect from the ordinary people on the streets and join APC, then that’s the time we will be concerned’, he stated.

The governor, who is the chairman of the committee, explained that the priority of committed party members was to build a PDP solid enough to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027; a project he said would be fully defined by the outcome of the Ibadan convention.

He promised that Ibadan would be one of the best-organised PDP conventions and would produce a leadership that would lead the party to success in 2027.

‘Hold me responsible if we do not have one of the best national conventions in the history of PDP’, he stressed.

Makinde dismissed claims that he fought to have the conversation in Ibadan because of his own political ambition, insisting that the PDP must be healthy first as a party before any serious members would be thinking about personal ambitions.

He noted: ‘Well, I already said to people several times, I’m old enough to set an agenda for myself. For us, we must have a party before anyone can have an ambition.

‘So, all the efforts right now, except you’re saying that, no, forget about having a party, just focus on ambition. So, nobody’s going to set an agenda for me.

‘First thing first, our first step is to put our best effort, the best foot forward to ensure that your state is able to host the best national convention ever in the history of PDP. And that is exactly what we’re focused on.’

Asked to assess the performance of the APC since 2023 in view of the series of challenges confronting the country, including insecurity, Makinde replied that making assessments or comparisons has never been his style.

However, the governor said Nigerians were ‘not blind’ and could ‘see.’

He added, ‘The people of Nigeria are not blind; they know.

‘I can give you the assurance that we’re not going to spend our energy and time talking about what they should have done or they shouldn’t have done, because Nigerians are aware. They are more aware than we leaders are even giving them credit for.

‘But the PDP you will see post-convention, with new leaders, new heroes coming up, will be a PDP that will come out boldly to tell Nigerians what they will do for them. And it will be in black and white, such that we can be held accountable.’

The European Union (EU) has reinforced its development cooperation with Nigeria through a ?320.5 billion (pound 190 million) credit line aimed at expanding agricultural financing and supporting climate-smart food production across the country.

The facility, provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB), was announced during a meeting between senior EIB executives and a delegation from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, held on the sidelines of the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium.

According to Ms. Thourayya Tricki, the EIB’s Director of International Partnerships, the credit facility underscores the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, particularly in the cocoa and dairy value chains.

She noted that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to drive sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural production and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian agri-food products.

Tricki, who was joined by Mr. Diedrick Zambon, the EIB’s Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Relations, revealed that the investment package includes both credit lines and technical assistance to Nigerian Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and commercial banks.

These measures are expected to broaden access to finance for farmers, agribusinesses, and other players in the value chain.

In addition to the new agricultural facility, Nigeria is already benefitting from an pound 18 million Technical Assistance grant to strengthen regulatory capacity for vaccine manufacturing, as well as a pound 50 million credit line to expand local pharmaceutical production.

The Nigerian delegation, comprising Mr. Bolaji Onalaja, Special Assistant to the Minister, and Mr. Benjamin Galadima, Focal Officer for the EU Unit, highlighted ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

They also discussed the forthcoming National Development Plan (2026-2030) and the Ward-Based Development Programme as vehicles for driving sustainable growth and community-level development.

Representing the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the delegation expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gauthier Mignot, for facilitating the country’s participation at the 2025 Global Gateway Forum.

The Global Gateway Forum serves as the EU’s primary platform for translating its Global Gateway Investment Package into tangible partnerships and projects.

It brings together governments, development finance institutions, and private sector stakeholders to advance investments in connectivity, green transition, digital transformation, and human capital development.

In her keynote address, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to building sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships under the Global Gateway Strategy.

She announced an expansion of the Global Gateway Investment Package to pound 400 billion, alongside the creation of an Investment Hub designed to accelerate project delivery and improve access to finance, particularly across Africa.

Lagos State Government said it has removed over 17 houses for encroachment on the Right of Way (ROW) of the Ikota River alignment in Oral Estate II.

Besides, the state authority over the weekend issued an immediate seal and stop work order for illegal reclamation activities to narrow and reduce the size of the Ikota River around Partibons Homes Estate/Bee – Forth Estate Phase 2 off Orchid Road in Lekki area of the State.

The commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, gave the directive while speaking with the media after an inspection tour of the area, saying the illegal activities going on in the area is heart wrenching because some individuals have deliberately chosen to destroy the ecosystem provided by nature.

Wahab said the ministry recently received an SOS message that some people were aggressively reclaiming some parts of Ikota river and erecting illegal structures with the aim of selling the illegal properties to unsuspecting / innocent citizens.

He stressed:’ There is no way flash flooding can be stopped in a coastal state, especially one like Lagos that is bordered by the Atlantic, Lagoons and rivers.’

He added that flooding could only be mitigated by putting resilient infrastructure in place alongside various sustainable approaches.

‘This present administration has introduced different approaches in mitigating flooding, some of which include the provision of resilient infrastructure, continuous maintenance of all drainage channels all year round by the Ministry’s EFAG team and construction of secondary collectors/primary channels Statewide,’ he said.

He added some unscrupulous individuals who believe they are above the law are pushing back nature and blocking system 156/ 157, forgetting that these channel are on a coastal alignment which must discharge into the Ikota to further discharge into the Lagoon.

He said discharging of storm water had been designed by nature itself, but human activities have distorted it saying that government will not fold its hands and allow the implication affect the majority.

The commissioner also visited the ongoing restoration of Right of Way along the Ikota River alignment in Oral Estate II, noting that a total of 17 units have been removed so far.

He recalled that government earlier engaged the property owners to find a win-win solution saying that it was necessary to remove the contraventions on the right of way along the Ikota River because the Ikota River is the only channel that supports the Atlantic in the axis.

The Environment Commissioner who was alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi also inspected environmental infraction along the Lekki/Epe expressway in preparation for the forthcoming Green rail line along the Corridor.

He explained that on the 26th of September 2025, abatement notices were served in sync with the Ministry to automobile dealers on the Lekki/Epe Expressway who had totally encroached further on wetlands and under the High Tension wires than the temporary approved site allocated to them, adding that this negates the original master plan for the Green Line by the Ministry of Transportation.

He said the temporary approvals issued to the automobile dealers stated that they are not to erect permanent structures because the site is under the power line, stressing that some of these dealers had pushed beyond the approved site while encroaching on the wetlands.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to preserve the wetlands across the state as wetlands are part of ways to proffer lasting solution to flooding.

‘Wetlands are meant to help you hold the water till rains subsides and after the recent heavy rainfalls, the ministry in the course of flying Drones, realized that virtually the whole wetlands where coconut were planted along Lekki – Epe Expressway Corridor have been seriously bastardized,’ he said.

He said ministry was there to check the infraction levels and how the two ministries can work together to salvage the Wetlands and restore the master plan to accommodate the green line, ordering that enforcement of the law against the infractions begin immediately.

Ask EFCC to provide details of all confiscated virtual, digital assets linked to criminal activities

Chairman, House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee on Economic, Regulatory, and Security Implications of Cryptocurrency Adoption and Point-of-Sale (POS) Operations in Nigeria, Hon. Olufemi Bamisile, on Monday described the ?500 million to ?1 billion capital requirement set by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs) as outrageous and prohibitive.

Hon. Bamisile, who made the observation in Abuja during the technical meeting organised for key regulatory and security agencies, noted that while regulation of the cryptocurrency sector is essential, the current capital threshold could stifle innovation, discourage legitimate investors, and exclude emerging entrepreneurs, particularly young Nigerians, who hold the potential to drive economic growth and Nigeria’s digital transformation.

The lawmaker therefore urged SEC authorities to review the capital requirement with a view to make it more accessible and inclusive.

During the session, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the stakeholders that all confiscated virtual and digital assets linked to criminal activities are currently in its custody.

The Commission disclosed that it maintains dedicated digital wallets across its zonal offices for the safekeeping of such assets.

To this end, Hon. Bamisile directed the Commission to provide comprehensive records of all digital asset confiscations to support its ongoing legislative review and policy recommendations.

Hon. Bamisile reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to developing a regulatory framework that balances innovation with oversight, safeguards the financial system, and promotes transparency, youth inclusion, and national security in Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Committee, however, expressed displeasure over the failure of several key institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Communications Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to honour its invitation to the meeting.

Hon. Bamisile also urged all the agencies to take seriously the economic and security implications of the rapidly evolving digital finance sector.

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed Mr Benibo Anabraba, as the new Secretary to the State Government.

He replaces the former SSG, Dr Tammy Danagogo who was appointed in 2023 when Fubara became Governor.

The SSG who hails from Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state, same as Danagogo, is the son Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, Chairman of the Rivers Elders Forum and strong ally of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Chiefs Anabraba has been very visible in recent efforts to broker the existing peace in Rivers and hosted the last meeting between Governor Fubara, the FCT minister, and some members of the state House of Assembly.

The new SSG is a two-term former member of the Assembly and has also served as a commissioner under Governor Fubara.

The SSG’s appointment was contained in a statement, by Sir Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry Information and Communication.

It was gathered that the decision to drop the former SSG may not be unconnected with his role in the political impasse which rocked the state between late 2023 and early 2025.

Sources said the appointment of Anabraba as the new SSG is intended to further cement the ongoing peace process.